Daily Record Financial News &
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Vol. 103, No. 032 • One Section
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
Prospect looking for 1M square feet Officials won’t name company that is looking at Hillwood
Hillwood Investment Properties reported Monday the city is interested in identifying a site at AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center for a 1-millionsquare-foot distribution center from an undisclosed prospect. In its third-quarter report to the city, Hillwood said the submittal was related to a regional search, but that’s all the information it offered about the prospect. A 1-million-square-foot distribution center compares with the sizes sought by major retailers or e-commerce companies, such as
Amazon.com. Amazon.com opened two 1-million-square-foot fulfillment centers in Lakeland and near Tampa in 2014. Jacksonville was interested in landing one of those. The two centers together employ 2,000 people as of August were adding 2,000 more jobs. Kirk Wendland, executive director of the city Office of Economic Development, said Monday he could not disclose the name of the prospect, saying only “we are one of many sites that they are looking at.”
Being more social
Asked if Amazon.com might be looking at Jacksonville, Wendland said it was his understanding the company is always looking for sites. “We are certainly always interested, but that is about all I can say.” Amazon.com did not reply to a phone call or email Monday
afternoon. Hillwood Senior Vice President Dan Tatsch said Monday he didn’t have much more information than what he disclosed in the report. He said it was “a fairly typical early-stage inquiry for an undisclosed prospect.” Tatsch said Hillwood, the city and the JAXUSA Partnership economic development division of the JAX Chamber receive such inquiries regularly. “Generally we are given very little information about the prospect, at least not until the deal
Art Walk highlights Hemming’s 150 years
By Max Marbut Staff Writer
Sheriff ’s Office taking positive approach online Awsten Yonn and Miranda Vega were recently approached by a Jacksonville police officer as they walked outside in front of Wolfson Children’s Hospital. They weren’t in trouble with the law. There was some trouble, however. Their baby, Dusten, had just gone into eye surgery, they told the Santa-hat clad officer. On Dec. 17, members of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office were out spreading a little holiday cheer. Two anonymous donors had given $50,000 for area law enforcement agencies to randomly distribute $100 gift cards. The young couple was a perfect candidate. “Would this help your day be a little bit better and help you have a Merry Christmas?” asked Melissa Bujeda, a public information officer. Yonn looked somewhat shocked, perhaps a little nervous, before saying absolutely it would. Vega asked if Bujeda was serious. Bujeda was, which prompted Vega to ask if it was OK to give her a hug. “We’re going to buy him something nice,” Yonn said of baby Dusten. It was one of the day’s many cheerful moments that were relayed through social media, a tool the sheriff’s office has used much more — and much differently — in recent months. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are no longer a means to just blast mug shots, missing person reports or the ongoing, persistent reminders of crime Jacksonville JSO continued on Page A-3
legal notices begin on page
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has ramped up its positive social media presence the past several months through ways such as, clockwise from top, a random Secret Santa gift card giveaway, the holiday-themed Jax Jingles mascot and the Behind the Badge series.
Photos courtesy of Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
By David Chapman Staff Writer
Public
materializes into something more substantive,” he said. He said that has not happened yet with this prospect, to his knowledge. He said there are several sites at AllianceFlorida that could accommodate a 1-million-square-foot facility. Hillwood is the city’s master developer at Cecil Commerce Center, a former naval air station. It is developing the property as AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center. Mathis continued on Page A-4
The small plot of ground that a local historian regards as the most historic place in Jacksonville will be the focus of Downtown Vision’s Jan. 6 Art Walk. “I can’t think of another 1.5 acres that’s been the site of more history than Hemming Park,” said Emily Lisska, executive director of the Jacksonville Historical Society. The land was deeded in 1866 for the benefit of the people of Jacksonville by the descendants of Isaiah Hart, founder of the city. They transferred ownership of the parcel to the city for $10, with the condition that it always would be a public park. Originally known as “City Park,’ it was renamed in 1899 in honor of Civil War veteran Charles Hemming after he installed the 62-foot Confederate memorial statue in the park. In the late 19th century, resort hotels were built around the park to attract tourists who wanted to escape harsh Northern winters. Nine years after the Great Fire of 1901 destroyed the hotels, Lisska Jacob and Morris Cohen, owners of a local dry goods company, bought the land along the north side of the park. They commissioned architect Henry John Klutho to design and construct a four-story building for their business. The structure would later become the May-Cohens department store and even later, City Hall. Lisska said the 20th century history of Hemming Park can’t be told without listing some of the major political figures. President Franklin Roosevelt made a speech in the park. President Theodore Roosevelt stood on the porch at the Seminole Club and addressed a crowd that spilled into the park. During the 1960 presidential campaign, speeches were made and voters courted by candidates John F. Kennedy and Richard Art Walk
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